| In terms of dramatic structure | |
| Posted by: aleck 09:58 am EST 12/29/24 | |
| In reply to: re: CAROUSEL question - Ronsdivas 09:25 pm EST 12/28/24 | |
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| The narrative importance of the scene following the soliloquy is that it sets up the dynamics of "mystery" in the minds of the audience. What is going to happen next? Will Billy/Jigger upset the joyful clambake? This anticipation of a potential plot development keeps the audience in suspense during the intermission. In other words, you don't need to start all over again with Act Two to get the audience involved. The same thing is done at the end of ACT I of Oklahoma. The Act does NOT end with the dream ballet. The act ends with Laurey waking up and Jud saying to her, perhaps menacingly, "Wake up, Laurey. It's time to start fer the party." And, like Carousel, the audience is put on tender hooks to imagine how Jud is going to upset the joyful party, which carries the audience through the intermission. Similarly, at the end of Act One of South Pacific, the dramatic action sets up another "mystery" that may -- or may not -- work itself out after the intermission. Namely, Nellie runs out on Emile because she finds out that the mixed race children are Emile's. She runs out. Emile sings woefully "Once you have found her, never let her go." But you have to come back (from the toilet) to find out if (or how) he achieves his dream. Or at the end of Act One of King and I. There's a struggle between the King and Anna about how she should follow everything he does or says. He throws himself on the floor, flat, and Anna has to follow. He rests his chin on his hand; Anna must follow. But as the text description says "Anna and the King regard each other warily. Who is taming whom?" Exactly. And that's what gets the audience to get back to their seats, excited. Oscar Hammerstein knew what he was doing. Some others could take some lessons from him -- especially those who fiddle with the dramatic structure of these great musical plays. There's no crime in having something "well made." The audience would appreciate it. |
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